We've had Tekken in the office for six months now and we still haven't figured out all the nuances of combat. It's a deep, beautiful fighting game that, combined with Toshinden, makes the Playstation the system of choice for fighting game fans, at least now.

The painfully long loading times ofCD-based systems is, of course, a familiar complaint, but it’s in this area that Tekken finally overpowers its competitors – the initial boot-up (during the splendid, arcade-perfect Galaga game) lasts just eight seconds, and between-bout delays are non-existent.
Tekken rips up the rule book and delivers an experience that even its £2000 coin-op namesake can’t match. Expect to see it alongside Ridge Racer on the shelf marked ‘Absolute Essentials’.

Tekken is considered enhanced over it's coin-operated daddy. The game is faster, the computer-generated music has been replaced with a real CD quality score and there are nearly a dozen gorgeous computer-rendered animation sequences. Yes, there's some cheap stuff - particularly being able to be repeatedly whack your fallen foe when he's still on the ground - but the gameplay stands up to the best 2-D fighters. Buy Tekken and be happy.

The world's most ruthless and renowned martial arts contest is the Tekken tournament. The Mishima Corporation has sponsored the tournament by offering the largest cash prize ever for a professional fighting competition.

Tekken's only downfall is its graphics. The action and control is smooth, and the characters look good in a basic sort of way, but the backgrounds are flat and lifeless. This was greatly improved upon in the sequel (see review of Tekken 2 for more information). All in all, an excellent game.